Screen means for pour openings of paper beverage receptacles



March 8, 1960 F. 1'. BARTOLOMEO 2,927,595

SCREEN MEANS FOR POUR OPENINGS 0F PAPER BEVERAGE RECEPTACLES 2Sheets-Sheet r1 Filed Ovt. 25, 1957 FIGJ INVENTOR. Frank T. BartolomeoF. T. BARToLoMEo 2,927,695 CREEN MEANS FOR POUR OPENINGS OF PAPERBEVERAGE RECEPTACLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 8, 1960 -5 med oom-23. 1957v I/ 4 'I 4' .30a x4 INVENTOR.

filnited States arent v SCREEN MEANS Fon rotin oPnNnsGs or PAPERBEVERAGE nacnrrncrss Franlr T. Bartolomeo, Merrick, NYY.

Application October 23, 1957, Serial No. 691,865

11 Ciainis. (Cl. 210-464) These receptacles are of various'shapes'andagr-eat many have a flat top which is provided with a pour opening andsuch vpour opening is closed by vmeans of a paper plug or stopper whichis also heavily waxed. Such waxed Stoppers or plugs are secured by astaple to the top of the carton `and are bent along a line adjacent tothe 4staple to form a hinge connection so that the stopper can bewithdrawn from the opening and folded or swung back to permit thecontents of the receptacle to be dispensed.

` Alnfthe operation'of initially removingthe wax coated stopper or plugit frequently happens that particles of the *"wax'break off and fallinto the liquid` in the receptacle and the action of re-closing theopening and again open-V ing it and repeating these'operations, resultsin the further loosening of wax particles which drop into the receptacleand additionally other matter which may have become attahed to the plugwhile it is lopenmay fall off into the receptacle when the plug orstopper is replaced.

In'addition to the fact that wax particles and other extraneous mattermay fall into the receptacle in the Vmanner stated, if the stopper orplug is left open for any time, there is always the possibility of'iesor other insects or other undesirable material getting into Athe carton.

'ln the light of the foregoing,'it is a particular object of :thepresent invention to provide a means in association with the pouropening of such a receptacle which'will` prevent the passage ofwaxparticles or any iother particles or other matter from entering thereceptacle and thus being dispensed with the liquid contents thereof.

lt also happens that in the use of cartons ofthe character stated, withthe wax paper Stoppers hingedly attached to the top thereof, ,therepeated opening and closing of the carton results in the loosening ofthe stopper or plug so that after a short period of use the opening willnot be tightly covered or closed and, therefore, particles of foreignmatter which may fall on the top of thecarton may get into the samethrough the opening even thoughl the stopper is in closed position. Y

it lis accordingly a further object of the invention to provide 'a meanswhereby theconventional waxed paper 'stopper can be pressed down intorelatively ytight engagementwith an underlying portion of the structure,such as 'a 'peripheral portion of the hereinbefore stated means,

whereby to compensate for any looseness whichmay de-V velop between thestopper and the edge of the opening and thereby prevent foreign matterfrom getting into the receptacle. y

e More specically itis an object ofthe present invention to provide in acarton or receptacle of the character above VV2,927,695 ir'iatented Mar.8,

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` iixed in the pour opening and which, when in operative positiontherein, will receive a part ofthe conventional waxed paper stopper sothat the latter willI function in its usual manner butwhen it is removedfor dispensing the contents of the carton, the screen will then functionto prevent passageof undesirable matter into the carton.

lt is a further object of the present invention to provide receptaclesor cartons of the character stated wherein such screeningprneans orscreening unit will constitute aV fixed part of the carton inassociation with the conventional waxed paper closure member or stopperwhen the carton and contents are purchased. v,

Itis a further object of the present invention to provide to a strictconformity with the showing of the drawingsy but may be .changed ormodied so long as such changes or Ymodifications mark no materialdeparture from the salient features of the Yinvention as expressed inthe appended claims.`

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a view in perspective ofthe top portion of a conventionalwaxed paper carton, such as is used for merchandising milk and otherbeverages, and showing the application of the present invention in oneembodiment to the receptacle top for coaction with the conventionalwaxed paper stopper;

'Fig 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2 2 of Fig.l;

"stated, a screening means or unit which i's adapted to be Fig. 3 is asectional view taken at right angles to vthe section for Fig. 2 andsubstantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a View in top plan of a receptacle such as that shown in Fig.1, but showing another embodiment of the invention wherein a single baris employed across the conventional closure stopper for sealing theperiphery or rim in closed position;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Fig.4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6- 6 of Fig.4; p

Fig. 7vis a view in side elevation of the strainer unit removed from thepour opening of the carton and show.- ing a different type Vof keepermeans for the hold-down bar shown in Figs. 4 and 5;

Fig. 8 isa top plan view of a receptacle showing a third embodiment ofthe invention; Y Y Fig. `9 is a sectional view taken substantiallyV onth line 9 9 of Fig. 8; l

Fig. Vl0 is a sectional view taken transversely through a fourthembodiment of the invention, which embodiment is designed for purchaseindependentlyof the-car-V ton to be applied to the carton by thepurchaser.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 in Fig.l generally designates the upper portion of a waxed paper carton orreceptacle of the type hereinbefore'referred to. y

The numeral 12 designates the side walls of the carton while the topWallis `designated 14 and such 'walls arey interconnected or foldedtogether as indicated at 16 in Fig. 3, and also in Figs.'5 and 6, and,as is well known, 'the material of .the carton, whichV is paper, isheavily coated with parat'm wax or other suitable wax material,

to make the wall material water proof. Such wax material also isdesigned to make the joints between the walls water tight.

While the wax coating which is applied to the carton walls is actuallyof substantial thickness, nevertheless for purposes of clarity suchcoating is not illustrated, but it will be understood that such waxcoating material is a part of the carton wall construction.

The top wall 14 of the carton is here shown as being square, which isthe usual form for such receptacles, and this top wall adjacent to onecorner thereof is provided with an opening 18 for dispensing thereceptacle contents.

The numeral 20 generally designates the conventional closure for suchcartons, which closure is madeof the waxed material of which the cartonwalls are formed and the closure is pressed into the form of a cuppedplug for frictional engagement in the opening, such plug, being in theform of a cup, having a bottom portion 21 of circular outline, definedby the surrounding upstanding wall 22 which joins an outwardly directedange portion 23. This flange portion 23 is extended at one side of themember to provide a hinge ear 24 and this ear which lies upon the topwall 14 and is located on the side of the closure member remote from thecorner in which the opening 18 is formed, is xed to the top wall by astaple 25.

The flange 23 on the side of the closure member opposite from the ear 24is extended as indicated at 26 to cover the intumed top edge portion 16aof the container side wall.

When the closure member is xed or inserted into the opening 18 in theconventional carton and this extension or tongue portion 26 is disposedacross the adjacent top corner of the carton, a narrow flange part ofthe tongue portion is turned down across the seam 16, as indicated at27.

In carrying out the present invention in one embodiment thereof, asillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, there is provided a strainer unit which isgenerally designated 28, which is fixed over the opening 18 and isdesigned to form a permanent part of the carton structure. In otherwords, as previously stated, the strainer unit is intended to be a partof the carton structure as it is sold, closed and sealed, with themerchandise therein. The strainer unit 28 may be formed of any suitablematerial which will not be of a character to affect the liquid in thecarton, as, for example, it may be formed of a suitable plastic, such aspolyethylene or it may be formed of suitable metal or, as stated, of anyother material which will serve the desired purpose.

The strainer unit 28 is formed as a cuplike body having a bottom portion29 and an encircling upstanding side wall portion 30, and this portion30 is intergal with an encircling outturned ange 31.

The side wall portion is formed to have a maximum diameter slightlygreater than the diameter of the opening 18 of the carton and this majordiameter of the wall is embodied in the rib part 30a which is locatedbetween the bottom 29 and the ange 31. Where the wall 30 of the strainerjoins the flange 31 the outside diameter of the cuplike strainer body isapproximately the same or it may be even very slightly greater than thediameter of the opening 18. Thus it will be seen that where the straineris fashioned of a yieldable but relatively stiff plastic such as thatreferred to, the cuplike portion can be forced through the opening 18 asthe material will yield sufliciently to permit this, and the materialwill then reform or reshape itself to its original dimensions so thatthe riblike portion 30a will project inwardly on the underside of thewall 14 and the edge of the opening will be fitted tightly around thewall 30, thereby forming a tight seal.

In addition to the foregoing, where the strainer unit is to be apermanent part of the carton as sold, the ange `31 may also be sealed tothe wall 14, either with a suitable 4 bonding material or with the waxmaterial with which the carton wall is coated.

Where the strainer unit "may be of a stiffer substance, such as thinmetal, this also might be suitably thin and resilient to flex to thedesired extent to permit the cuplike body portion of the strainer to beforced through the opening or the edge of the wall around the openingwould yield slightly to permit such introduction of the body portion ofthe strainer since the material of the carton has some degree ofexibility.

The bottom and side of the cuplike portion of the strainer is, ofcourse, perforated as indicated at 32.

The strainer 28 has formed integral with the flange 31 at opposite sidesof the latter, the outwardly extending tabs 33 and each of these haspivotally attached to it by means of a rivet 34, a fastener which isgenerally designated 35. This fastener has the round outer end 36through which the rivet 34 passes and the finger grip 37, and betweenthe linger grip 37 and the secured end portion 36 the body is angled asindicated at 38 and this angled portion is adapted when the nger grip isswung around to extend over the ange 23 of the closure member, to rideonto the edge of the flange 33 and press it down against the underlyingflange portion 31 of the strainer unit as shown in Fig. 2.

As will be readily apparent, when the carton is to be opened, thefasteners are swung so as to disengage the angled portions 38 from theclosure ange 23, whereupon the closure may be swung to open position inthe customary manner, that is, by grasping the tongue portion 26 andpulling it up so as to extract the part 21 from the interior of thestrainer unit. It will thus be seen that any wax or other material whichmay be broken loose in the opening of the carton will be prevented fromentering the carton as it will be caught in the strainer unit if itshould fall through the pour opening. Likewise if the carton is allowedto remain open, the strainer unit will prevent flies or other bodiesfrom entering the carton.

Upon the closing of the carton by reinserting the closure body 21 intothe strainer unit, the fasteners 33 may be swung back to the positionswhere the finger grip portions are extended inwardly one toward theother, and thus they will press the flange 23 firmly down to make atight joint between the latter and the ange 31 of the strainer unit.

Figs. 4 and 5 and 6 illustrate another construction of the invention. Inthese gures the carton structure and the carton closure member are thesame as in Figs. 1 to 3 and accordingly the same reference charactersare applied to identify the different parts.

The strainer unit in this second embodiment is generally designated 39and is of approximately the same construction as the unit 28 in that itembodies a cup-like portion having the bottom 40, the side flange 41 andthe encircling outwardly extending top flange 42. This top flange hasthe opposite outwardly extending tabs 43 and 44.

The bottom and side walls and 41 are perforated as indicated at 45.

The difference between the rst and second embodiments resides in themeans employed for pressing the flange portion 23 of the closure member20 into position when the closure member is returned to its pour openingcovering position. This securing or fastening means com prises a bar 46having the end portion 47 pivotally secured by the rivet 48 to the tab43. 'I'his bar is of a length to extend entirely across the width of theclosure member 20 and over and beyond the opposite tab 44 and thisopposite tab 44 carries an upstanding keeper member 49 which extendsacross the width of the tab 44 and has formed therein a blind keeperslot 50 of approximately U-shape which opens at one end through a sideof the keeper member at 51, as shown in Fig. 6.

The fastener bar is adapted to be swung on its pivot 48 into position toextend across the top of the closure 20 as shown in Fig. 5, where itwill bear against the top of the flange 23 of the keeper and when thefree end of the bar is slipped into the keeper slot 50 and movedtherealong to the inner and lower end of the slot, as it is shown inFig. 6, the bar 46 will be pressed firmly down against the ange 23 ofthe closure and thus press the flange in turn iirrnly against the ilangeportion 42 of the strainer unit. In thisy manner even though the closuremember may have been opened and closed several times, the bar will beeective to maintain a tight closing engagement of the ilange of theclosure with the flange of the strainer.

Fig. 7 illustrated a slightly modiiied form of the keeper member andkeeper slot which may be used for securing the fastener bar 46 in place.In this modified construction the keeper member which is designated 52stands up from and is carried by the tab 53 of a flange 54 forming apart of a strainer unit generally designated 55, and has a straightinclined slot 56 which opens at one end through the side of the keeperas at 57 while at its inner and lower end the slot joins an upwardlyoffsetportion or recess 58. In this construction it willbe apparent thatwhen the free end of the bar 46 is entered into the slot through theopen end S7 and forced down to the lower end of the slot, the bar willbe put under some little tension as it will be pressed down tightagainst the top of the ilange 54, and when the end of the bar reachesthe offset recess S it will spring upwardly and engage in the offset andthus be held against accidental displacement.

Except for the slight difference in the construction of l the bar keeperunit, this strainer unit is of the same forni' signed to be incorporatedin the carton as a permanent A part thereof, as stated.

Another embodiment or form of the invention is shown in Figs. 8 and9which is of a character to be sold sepa- Y rately from the carton to beplaced in position in the pour opening of the carton after the latterhas been opened and to cooperate with the regular attached andconventional waxed paper closure member.

in these two Figs. S and 9 the carton structure'and the conventionalclosure are of the same form as hereinbefore described and accordinglythe same reference characters may and will be employed for identifyingsuch parts.

The embodiment of the invention adapted to be placed in the carton pouropening by the user comprises a strainer unit which is generallydesignated S9 anda co-y operating cap portion which is generallydesignated 60. The strainer unit 59, like the precedingl units, embodiesa cuplike portion having a perforated bottom 61 and a perforated sidewall `62, the perforations being designated 63. l

The numeral 64 designates a flange which denes the top of the wall 62and this flange carries a single laterally extending tab 65 which inturn supports two opstanding hinge knuckles 66.

The strainer unit is adapted to be pressed into the pour opening afterthe conventional closure member 20 has been pulled out and swung back,and the wall 62 is shaped Ila() as in the preceding structures so thatit will be tightly frictionally held in the carton pour opening.

The cap 60 also comprises or embodies a cuplik'e plug portion 67 whichis of an overall diameter to it snugly within the cuplike conventionalclosure k2li and this cap 6i? carries the single hinge knuckle 68 on itsedge which is adapted to be positioned between the knuckles 66 and theknuckles 66 and 68 are pivotally coupled together by a pivot pin 69 sothat the cap 60 can be swung to applied or unapplied `position asrequired, after the strainer unit has been fixed in the pour opening andafter the conventional closure member has been inserted into the opentop of the strainer unit in the manner illustrated in Fig. 9.

From the foregoing it will be seen that in the form tion which issimilar in construction to that shown inr Figs. 8 and 9 but is designedto completely replace the conventional closure member 20 which is, aspreviously stated, fixed .by the staple 25 to the top wall or" thecarton. f p

In this replaceable closure-strainer, 4the formation of the two parts,namely, the strainer unit portion, which is generally designated 70, andthe cap port-ion which is generally designated 71, is substantially thesame as the strainer unit 59 and the cap 60 in that the flange porti-on72 of the strainer unit carries the tab 73 to which is hingedly attachedby means of a pin 74, a part of the cap 71 with the exception that thecap and strainer are of a size to it snugly together whereas in the formof the invention shown in Figs. 8 and 9 they are dimen-y sioned to allowfor the introduction of the conventional closure member between them.

What is claimed is;V v l i. in combination, a waxed paperreceptaclehaving a top wall with a pour opening therein and having itsedge lying in the plane ofvsaid wall, a closure member for said openinghaving a-hinge connection with said top Vwall on one side of theopening, the closure member being formed ,for extension into theopening, and a flanged strainerv itted in and friction-ally engaging theedge of the opening and formed to receivel the closure member, theilange of the strainer lying upon the receptacle top wall between thelatter and portions of' said closure.

2. The invention according to'claim l, with means for pressing the said.portions of said lclosure member into sealing engagement with the flangeof the strainer.

3. The invention according to claim 2, wherein the' last means is in theform of a latching element movable rrelative to the closure member topress thereon.

4. In combination, a receptacle adapted to contain potable fluids andhaving a wall provided with a pour opening, a closure body hingedlyattached to said wall and adapted for closing said pour opening, astrainer unit having a foraminous portion formed for engagement in thepour opening beneath said closure body-and adapted to be covered by the'closure body, and a securing element attached to the strainer unit andmovable into operative engagement with the closure body when the latteris in pour opening Vclosing position to secure the closure. body insuchclosing position.

5; The invention according to claim 4, wherein said securing element isof a form to be grasped bythe lingers and is movable across theclosurelbody about a pivot element to which it is attached and which iscarried by i the strainer unit. i

6.The invention according to'claim 4, wherein? the closure body has aportion in the form of a cup adapted .f to enter the pour opening andthe said portion of the f f' strainer unit is also in the form of a cupand vsized to Y enter the pour opening and is adapted to have the saidportion of the Vclosure bodyr frictionally secured therein.

,17. The invention-according to claim 4, Awherein the said securingelement is in the form of an elongate mehrV ber and said strainer unithas a laterally extending tab carrying a pivot pin to which saidelongate member vis, connected at one end to swing across and intosecuring engagement with the closure body.

8. The invention according to claim 7, wherein said elongate member isof a length to extend across the entire width of the closure body, andmeans. carried by the strainer unit on the side oppositefrom rsaid tabVand' 7 pivot pin for securing the other end of said elongate member insaid securing engagement with the closure body.

9. The invention according to claim 8, wherein the last stated meanscomprises a slotted keeper member secured to and upstanding from thestrainer unit on the side of the latter opposite from said pivot pin andadapted to receive in the slot thereof the other end of the saidelongate member.

I10. As an article of manufacture, a body of cup form having aforaminous bottom and side wall and having a surrounding imperforateflange dening the top of the side wall and a cap body hingedly attachedto the ange and adapted to close the top of said body, said first bodybeing adapted for insertion into a pour opening in a wall of areceptacle and having the said foraminous side wall bulging outwardlybetween the foraminous bottom wall and the ange to provide an encirclingrib adapted to function as a means for locking the first body in thepour opening `of the receptacle into which it is inserted by projectingunder the receptacle wall adjacent to the said pour opening thereof.

11. The invention according to claim 10, wherein the said cap body isalso of cup form and adapted to be frictionally secured in the cup-likeforaminous body and the cap body having a bottom wall bearing upon thebottom of the cup-like foraminous body when secured in the latter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

